Channel strip



R. BEYNON CHANNEL STRIP Oct. 4, 1932.

Original Filed April 25. 1929 I [7VE'I7 5.2-"

fear fieyzwz Patented Oct. 4, 1932 UNITED rates REES IBEYNON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'IO DRYIDEN RUBBER COMPANY, OF

PATENT-OFFICE.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS CHANNEL STRIP Original application filed April 25, 1929, Serial No. 358,023. Dividedand this applicationfiled. August 13,

r .1930. Serial No. 475,922.

This invention relates to improvements in cushioning or sealing strips highly desirable for use as header or lintel strips in connectionwith vehicle windows, although the inventionmay have many and various uses as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

The improved method of making the present invention is more fully set forthand claimed in my co-pending application for kneaded rubber, and the like, have been found to be highly suitable for lintel strips for vehicle windows, since they form an eX-' cellent shock resisting element and establish a very efficient seal against theelement when contacted by a sash member, the sash member causing the lintel strips to yield to the pressure thereagainst and closely embrace the edge of the sash member. However, as these formerly known devices were used, they were objectionably difficult to install. The diiiiculty of installation was due to the flexibility of the strip so that while one end of the strip was being secured in position the remainder of the strip bent smartly downward from the point of securement, resulting in great, difficulty in properly aligning the strip. Attempts have been made to stifien sponge rubber by the securement thereto of metallic elements, but these attempts have, in most instances, proven abortivesince sponge rubber will not form a durable unit when united with metal alone. Furthermore, sponge rub v ber alone doesnot'bind itself to a desirable degree upon securing means, and quite oftenbecomes loosened.

The present inventionhas been designed to J overcome the above noted as well as other defects and objections in the provision of a header or lintel. strip, which, if so desired, may bemade in the form of a channel strip, and. through the central portion of which along the entire length thereof securing means may readily be driven, the strip binding itself to the securing means in such a manner as to stay in position until the structure is deliberately dismantled.

The invention also seeks the provision of a cushioning or lintel strip in which metal reinforcement is embodied, but no metallic parts are exposed. I,

Another object of this invention is the provision'of cushioning element havinga base portion of relatively stifi" material, and a front portion of extremely elastic material, the base portion providing the ."necessary rigidity for thearticle as a whole, and the front: portion providing the necessary shock absorbing and sealing means.

Whilesome of. the more salient features,

characteristics, and advantages of a device embodying this invention has been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures.

The invention includes these and other features of construction and. combinations of parts hereinafter described,and shown in a preferred form in the. drawing, as more particularly indicated by the claims.

On the drawing: v

Figure l. is a fragmentary topplan view, with parts brokenaway, of a header or lintel strip embodying. features of the presentinvention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged. vertical sectional View taken substantially as indicated by the line II-..Il of, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary per- 7 speotive view illustrating a step, in the mak- Figure 5 isa perspective view of the device when finished.

V Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2'showinga similar device having a slightly difi'erent shape.

' Figure 7 is a view similarto Figure 6. showing a st-ill'different. form of construc tion. 1

As shown on the drawing: In the illustrated embodiment of this invention there is shown a header'o'r lintel strip,

which in this instance is shown in the form I of a channel strip, comprising a base portion 8 of kn-ealed or molded rubber, or caoutchouc material, preferably, which, while having the normal resiliency and'elasticity inherent in material of this character, nevertheless is relatively stiff when compared with the front iportion .of the strip: which will be later described herein. This baseportion, 8 has the margins 9 thereof inwardly folded upon itself, each margin enclosing in the folded part thereof a stiffening rod 10 preferably of metal. If so desired, the inside'edges of the folded margins 9 may be secured to the central portion of the base 8 by any desired adhesive substance, but as willmore clearly appear later herein, such operation not really essential. Y n

To provide the desired shock absorbing and sealing member, a front portion 11, preferably of soft sponge rubber or caoutchouc material, is secured to the base portion 8 over the inwardly turned margins thereof. The front portion is preferably simultaneously molded and vulcanized to the base portion,

' and extends between the inner edges of the 'foverlapped margins to the central portion of the base, whereby substantially an integral strip is provided with the base portion thereof substantially stiffer and more rigid than the front portion. The vulcanizing of the front portion of the base portion obviously unites these portionsin a permanent manner and causes the overlapped margins of the base portion to grip the reinforcing rods 10, these rods being wholly concealed in the completed structure.

It will be apparent, therefore, that the completed strip is of very durable construction and permits securing means to be readily and easily driven therethrough throughout a wide central portion of the entire strip,

namely, all of that portion between the reinforcing rods. The base portion 8 provides a suitable and sufiicient body for'the structure and due to its inherent resiliency will grip the securing means to a degree far in excess of that necessary to retain the grip in its mounted position. The reinforcing rods stiffen the entire structure and enablethe strip to be handled and mounted in proper position very efiiciently.

In making the present strip, with reference now to Figures 3, 4, and 5, it is simply necessary to lay out the base portion 8 in the form of a fiat ribbon, place the stiffening rod i thereon in the proper spaced relationship, and

fold the margins ofthe base over the reinforcing rods, securing the inner edges of these margins to the central part of the base portion, if so desired. Next, the top' portion 11 is laid over the inwardly turned margins,

of the base, this top portion at this stage be inga block of spongy caoutchouo material previously impregnated with a rising ingredient, baking soda, for example, and of much less size than when the strip is completed. The entire strip is then placed in a suitable mold having a desired configuration for the front portion of the strip, and the material within the mold is subjected to heat, whereupon the block of material 11 will expand and fill the entire upper portion of the mold with a soft, very elastic, rubber composition of spongy texture, which forms the front portion 11 of the channel. Simultaneously, with the molding of the front portion of the channel, the same is securely'vulcanized to the base portion 8 so that the resulting channel strip is, for practically all purposes, an

integral structure including a relativelystiff the change in configuration of the mold, the

strip is provided with a front portion 13 having a relatlvely large channel 14 thereln with a second groove or channel 15 adjacent H the bottom of the large channel. The chan nel or groove 15 is preferably of trapezoidal cross section, with the side Walls thereof diverging towards the base portion 8.

When the structure shown in Figure 6 is utilized as a headeror lintel strip, and secur ing means for the strip are driven through V the top portion forming the .bottom of the groove 15 and the base portion 8 of course, the upper edges of the groove tend to close or move together so as to conceal the heads of the securing means. Therefore, the vehicle window or sash is prevented from striking the edge of the securing means, and, ob viously, the front portion 13 will readily form a seal adjacent the edge of the window or sash.

In Figure 7 I have shown a still different form of construction, wherein a base portion 16 1s previously molded or otherwise formed with a pair of spaced grooves 17 thereinfor the accommodation of reinforcing rods '10. The rods 10 are inserted in the grooves simultaneously with or after the forming ofthe base portion 16, as is found most expedient.

Afterwards a top portion 18 is'molded into the proper shape and simultaneously vulcanized to the base portion in the manner hereinabove described. 7

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have provided a cushioning element desirable for use as a header or lintel strip which presents an extremely soft and yielding front surface, and which nevertheless is sufficiently rigid to enable this strip to be handled and installed with great facility. Moreover, securing means may be driven through the strip with ease, and notwithstanding the highly elastic front portion, the strip has sufficient body to render the securing means effective for all practical purposes. In addition, the finished product may be very economically manufactured and is extremely durable.

I am aware that many changes may be made, and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, donot purpose limiting the patent granted hereon, otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1, In a device of the character described, a base of elastic material, stiffening means associated with saidbase and extending longitudinally along a side margin thereof leaving the central portion of said base free for the passage of securing means therethrough, and a front portion of greater elasticity secured to said base.

2. A cushioning ,element including a base of elastic material, metallic rods embedded in the margins only of said base and extending longitudinally therealong, and a front portion of greater elasticity secured to said base.

3. As an article of manufacture, a cushioning element including a base of elastic material having the margins thereof folded inwardly and each terminating short of the center of said base to leave only one thickness of material at this central region, and a front portion of greater elasticity secured to said base.

4:. As an article of manufacture, a cushioning element including a base of elastic mate rial having inwardly folded margins, stiffening means embraced by said margins, and a front portion of greater elasticity secured to said base over said margins.

5. As an article of manufacture, a header or lintel strip comprising a base portion of relatively stiif caoutchouc material having spaced grooves therein, reinforcing means seated in said groove, and a front portion of greater elasticity than said base portion secured to said base portion over said reinforcing means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Chicago, Cook. County,

Illinois.

REES BEYNON. 

